The former Indian cricketer believes that England will not look to chase on a fifth day pitch.

Sunil Gavaskar believes that England won’t enforce the follow on in the third Test against India at Southampton. India are 323 for eight, in reply to England’s 569. On Day Three, India kept losing wickets and were not able to dominate on a good batting track. India are still 47 runs away from avoiding follow on with MS Dhoni and Mohammed Shami in the middle.

Gavaskar believes that India still have a chance of avoiding follow-on. Speaking to NDTV, Gavaskar said, “Avoiding the follow-on won’t be difficult if Dhoni gets to bat most of the deliveries. I don’t know much about Pankaj Singh‘s batting but I know that Shami can hang around. So there is a possibility that India can get those 47 runs needed to avoid the follow-on.”

However, Gavaskar believes that if India does go on to lose wickets before saving follow on, he believes England will not enforce it. He said, “Even if they don’t, I have my doubts whether England will enforce it. Everybody knows that on Days Four and Five, there will be a bit of turn and although India have only (Ravindra) Jadeja, they have used Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay as other spin options. And even if it is only a matter of scoring 170 and the ball is turning, England will struggle,”

India will now go into Day Four on the backfoot with England in a commanding position. England would want to finish things and go on to win the Test match. But, India have to put in a determined performance to smash it.